An explosive extra-alarm fire raced through a plastic recycling plant on the city's Southwest Side Monday morning.

Heavy flames and exploding propane tanks prompted a the 2-11 alarm and hazardous materials response at the large factory building in the 2800 block of West 48th Place.

The building housed a plastic recycling company, according to Fire Chief Joseph Roccasalva, a department spokesman.

Dozens of firefighters put the fire out by 3:50 a.m.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire wasn't immediately known.

Copyright 2012 - Chicago Tribune

McClatchy-Tribune News Service